Just thinking about the case for professional rugby in Kenya. The departure of Humphrey Khayange to the UK at a time when talk is rife of making the "elite" rugby players full pro smacks of a real slap in the face. Professionalism by every sense would mean that it becomes the preferred career for the selected. It would thus be able to offer as much incentive as any other paying job, as well as ensure one is able to fend for themselves after retirement, which in a sportsman's case comes much earlier than most. It would thus appear to the casual observer like myself that a future in professional rugby in Kenya is not very appealing or practical at the moment, so long as there are other options. If there are none, then by all means it becomes viable.
Mine though is another approach to it. On paper it seems to make sense, but I have always been an advocate for to bottom-up approach, as opposed to the reverse. We must build the base for professionalism before claiming the top is professional. The previous rugby administration were averse to using the word professional and made the distinction in defining us as an amateur union. Reasons for that, I don't know. Fear of the deep end, possibly. Thus everything they did was guided by that word, amateur. Now the current administration, in its haste to right several perceived wrongs, has rushed to make some players professional. Just how that works, I don't know, but paying some players money will not necessarily make them better players. Are they now expected to quit college, their jobs and anything else that interferes with their vocation? And were they to get injured and no longer qualify to be in the professional category, can they just pick up their lives where they left off? And if you were to call up a new player into this group, how then does he catch up to where the rest have reached?
We cannot have a professional national team with amateur clubs. The clubs must professionalise first, and only then can we have a feeder to the national teams that share the same ideals as well as ethos! And that must be the focus of the Union.
5 Comments:
I'm gonna say that one or several players landing pro abroad contracts is hardly a negative or positive reflection of KRU. If the players cannot balance the rest of their lives around rugby as a job, as they had with any other career then I wouldn't blame the union as its not a nanny. Having said that I strongly agree professional national team in an amateur domestic set up not a very bright idea. There's the possibility that the lucky 30 or 45 or whatever number that is will develop as sense of Entitlement because of the KRU pay check, rather than professioalism. Perhaps Mr. Muthee ought to have a cup of tea with a certain Mr. Inamdar before proceeding further with the idea.
Hahahahah,to think that you have info of whatever is going on is like expecting share to speak in a flawless american accent.Tall has left since up to now nothing tangible has been put on the table touching on contracts,kq deal etc..things are not good in the sevens team and in a few days everything will unfold,players not paid for 4 months,gym training in the rain,low morale after senior players are kicked out of the team,a headmaster for a coach,politics from the terry the midget etc
To build our 15s, we need players abroad. The local league is not competitive enough and neither will making it pro change anything. Conversely the fact that 7s players are needed for 6 months at a stretch they will not get releases if playing abroad.
Going pro in Kenya is a really tough move as you will only be able to attract those with few options in life, not your average rugby player...
Tall has a scholarship to pursue a masters in chemistry at a top university in the UK. Surely, why wouldnt he take up the offer? Let us not forget that even the likes of Joe Roff left Super Rugby and Australian Rugby for a year to pursue a course at Cambridge. Tall knows in another 5 years, playing rugby will not put food on the table and all he is doing is securing his long term future. this actually is a very wise move. all teh best Tall. You did kenya proud
Greg...wish you would write after you knew the facts.
the morale in the 7s team is higher then ever.
The players arrears are being paid in batches as we speak.
Senior players were not kicked out. Players who did not meet the selection criteria didnt make the the team.
About the coaching staff.....just ask the players....you will be surprised at how happy they are.
Now that is FACT!!
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